Electrosurgical apparatus to coagulate biological tissues

ABSTRACT

An electrosurgical instrument comprises a box of heat-conducting metal with a cover thereon forming a hermetic enclosure in which there is contained in isolation a heating element and a temperature transmitter. A tubular holder is connected to the enclosure and to a handle and connectors pass through the holder and handle to a temperature-measuring circuit with an indicator and a switch control power circuit adapted for connection to a power source. The temperature-measuring circuit is connected to the transmitter and the power circuit is connected to the heating element, the power circuit and temperature-measuring circuit being contained in a common unit.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Stanislav Alexeevich Gavrilov ulitsaSheikmima, l9, kv. 149; 1 Mikhail Aianasievicli Kostenko, ulitsaGagariha, 33, kv. 184; Vasily Vladimirovich Volkov, ulilsaKomsomolskaya, 17, kv. 31, all of Sverdlovsk, U.S.S.R. [21] Appl. No.751,575 [22] Filed Aug. 9, 1968 [45] Patented July 27, 1971 [54]ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUS T0 COAGULATE BIOLOGICAL TISSUES 2 Claims, 4Drawing Figs.

[51] lnt.Cl ..A6lb 17/36 [50] Field of Search 128/3031, 303.13, 303.17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,229,704 6/1917 Berry..128/303.14 UX Primary Examiner-L. W. Trapp Attorney-Waters, Roditi &Schwartz ABSTRACT: An electrosurgical instrument comprises a box ofheat-conducting metal with a cover thereon forming a hermetic enclosurein which there is contained in isolation a heating element and atemperature transmitter A tubular holder is connected to the enclosureand to a handle and connectors pass through the holder and handle to atemperature-measuring circuit with an indicator and a switch controlpower circuit adapted for connection to a power source. Thetemperaturemeasuring circuit is connected to the transmitter and thepower circuit is connected to the heating element, the power circuit andtemperature-measuring circuit being contained in i a common unitPATENTEDJULZYIB?! 3 595 23 SHEET 2 [1F 2 ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUS TOCOAGULATE BIOLOGICAL TISSUES The present invention relates generally tosurgical apparatus and instruments and more particularly toelectrosurgical apparatus to coagulate biological tissues.

Known in the art are apparatus termed galvanocauters and thermocauterswhose tips or prongs are adapted to be heated with an electric are orwith an electric heater to coagulate biological tissues. I

A disadvantage inherent in the aforesaid apparatus resides in that theirapplication in surgical operations involving the use of dangerouslyexplosive narcotic mixtures may result in possible accidental combustionof the letter caused by a heated-up tip or an electric spark.

Moreover, the employment of the aforementioned apparatus to coagulate alarge-area biological tissue, e.g. to stop parenchymatous bleeding fromthe lung (pneumorrhagia parenchymatosa), occupies much time since only avery small area of the tissue under treatment is liable to coagulateupon contacting the heated-up tips or the electrodes of the apparatusinvolved. As a result, a superfluous loss of blood in the patient underoperation occurs.

A further disadvantage of said apparatus is that their application maylead to the necrosis of the area under treatment that penetrates for aconsiderable depth and is caused by high temperatures involved incauterization which is undesirable in coagulation process.

In keeping with the foregoing an object of the invention is thedevelopment of an electrosurgical apparatus to coagulate biologicaltissues which will ensure full safety when used in surgical operationsinvolving the employment of dangerously explosive narcotic mixtures andwill be capable ofquickly and reliable coagulating thesuperficial layerof both largeand small-area biological tissues to be treated.

With a view to achieving this object, in an electrosurgical apparatus tocoagulate biological tissues by virtue of an electric heater, accordingto the invention the latter is essentially a closed metal box providedwith a holder and adapted to accommodate a heating element therein.

The aforesaid'box is provided with a pin-shaped projection to coagulatethe local areas of the biological tissue being treated.

Said object is achieved also by the fact that there is a recess insidesaid box to accommodate a temperature transmitter thus isolated fromsaid heating element.

An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of the working portionof the electrosurgical instrument for coagulating biological tissues,according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment of the instrument box incorporatinga projection and provided with a recess to accommodate a temperaturetransmitter, according to the invention;

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows partly in section, the connection of theelectric measuring unit to a cable connected to a handle; and

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the electric measuring unit of theinstrument, according to the invention.

As it can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrosurgical instrument tocoagulate biological tissues, according to the invention, comprises anelectric heating element 1 mounted in-. side a box 2 which is made of aheat-conducting metal and is hermetically closed with a cover 3. The box2 with the cover 3 can be a parallelepiped or cylinder with chambered orrounded-off edges thereof.

Secured on the box 2 (FIG. I) or on the cover 3 (FIG. 2) is a holdermade as a tube 4 one of whose ends is adapted to communicate with theinner space of the box 2, whereas the other free end of the tube carriesa handle 5 (FIG. 2). The shape of the tube 4 in FIG. 1 is selected tosuit the urpose of convenience in manipulating the instrument urmgintrathorax operations.

A pin-shaped projection 6 is provided on the outside ofone of the wallsof the box 2 (FIG. 2), the free end 7 of projection 6 being rounded.

Provision is made inside the box 2 for a recess 8 to accom modate atemperature transmitter 9 isolated from the heating element 1.

Both the heating element 1 and the temperature transmitter 9 areconnected to an electric measuring unit 12 by way of a flexible cable I0(FIG. 3) running inside the tube 4 and the handle 5, and through theintermediary of a plug-and-socket connector 11. The unit 12 incorporatesa temperature-measuring circuit incorporating an indicator 13 whosescale is calibrated in terms of degrees Centigrade.

Additionally, the unit 12 incorporates a device for switching theheating element I, on and off said device being made, in particular, asa switch 14. As an alternative said element can be controlledautomatically.

The apparatus disclosed herein functions as follows.

Prior to starting the coagulation procedure, the unit 12 is to beconnected to the power source, e.g. an AC network, whereupon the heatingelement 1 is switched on through the use of the switch 14. Then thedegree of heating of the metal box 2 is controlled by reading the scaleof the indicator 13. Once the box 2 has been heated to the requiredtemperature, the tissue under treatment is caused to coagulate throughthe contact of the surface of the box 2 therewith. To treat smallareabiological tissues, as well as those'located in relatively inaccessibleplaces, use is made of the rounded surface 7 of the projections 6. Asthe box 2 cools, the heating element is periodically switched on. Thethermal capacity of the metal of the box 2, is sufficient to ensure thatthe box does not become appreciably cooled within the time intervalspent for performing an operation and, therefore, needs reheating.

The electric parameters of the heating element 1 are so selected thatthe steady-state temperature of the box is below the critical ignitionpoint of the narcotic mixture used. Practi-' cally, when treatingparenchymatous tissue the box is expediently heated up to to C. and inthe case of muscular tissue, up to 110 to C.

The duration of the coagulation procedure by the herein disclosedinstrument when used, e.g., to stop parenchymatous bleeding (inparticular, in the case of the lung ablation or of variously extendedpleurectomy), is 5 to 15 see.

What we claim is:

1. An electrosurgical instrument comprising a box of heatconductingmetal, a cover on said box and forming a hermetic enclosure therewith, atubular holder having one end connected to said enclosure and anopposite remote end, a handle connected to said remote end of theholder, a heating element in said enclosure, said enclosure defining arecess isolated from said heating element, a temperature transmitter insaid recess, connector means passing through said holder and handle andconnected to said heating element and temperature transmitter, and aunit connected to said connector means and disposed beyond said handle,said unit including a temperature-measuring circuit with indicator meansconnected to said transmitter and means for selectively connecting theheating element to a power source.

2. An instrument as claimed in claim 1 comprising a projecting pinconnected to and extending from said enclosure to coagulate local areasof biological tissue being treated.

1. An electrosurgical instrument comprising a box of heatconductingmetal, a cover on said box and forming a hermetic enclosure therewith, atubular holder having one end connected to said enclosure and anopposite remote end, a handle connected to said remoTe end of theholder, a heating element in said enclosure, said enclosure defining arecess isolated from said heating element, a temperature transmitter insaid recess, connector means passing through said holder and handle andconnected to said heating element and temperature transmitter, and aunit connected to said connector means and disposed beyond said handle,said unit including a temperature-measuring circuit with indicator meansconnected to said transmitter and means for selectively connecting theheating element to a power source.
 2. An instrument as claimed in claim1 comprising a projecting pin connected to and extending from saidenclosure to coagulate local areas of biological tissue being treated.